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Brief Synopsis

A young French couple is separated by the war in Algiers.

Geneviève, a 16-year-old girl whose mother, Madame Emery, operates an umbrella shop in Cherbourg, is in love with Guy, a 21-year-old auto mechanic who lives with his sickly Aunt Elise and young Madeleine, her companion. Guy and Geneviève want to marry, but he is about to begin 2 years of military service; before he departs, Geneviève has sex with him to prove her love. Guy has been away several months, and Geneviève has received only one letter when her mother learns that Geneviève is pregnant. Roland Cassard, a wealthy diamond merchant, proposes to Geneviève, declaring his willingness to raise Guy's child as his own. Geneviève is at first shocked by the idea, but as time passes, she becomes convinced that Guy has forgotten her. Won over by Cassard's tenderness and her mother's arguments, she marries Cassard. Guy returns home, learns of Geneviève's marriage, and disconsolately goes back to his old job. When Aunt Elise dies and Madeleine prepares to leave, Guy realizes that they are in love with each other. They marry and Guy buys a gas station with the money inherited from Aunt Elise; 3 years later, Guy and Madeleine are a happy family with their young son. On Christmas Eve when Guy is alone, Geneviève drives into the gas station. Aside from noting that their daughter strongly resembles Guy, the former lovers have little to say to each other, and they go their separate ways.